Freddie Crittenden's performance in the Men's 110m hurdles at the Paris 2024 Olympics raised eyebrows as he opted to jog through his heat rather than compete at full speed. This unusual strategy resulted in him finishing last with a time of 18.27 seconds, nearly five seconds behind the next competitor.
Crittenden, who had previously secured his Olympic spot by finishing second at the U.S. Olympic Trials, explained that he was nursing a minor injury, specifically a strain in his right abductor muscle. To avoid exacerbating this injury, he chose a conservative approach during the race, aiming to conserve energy for the repechage round scheduled for August 6, 2024. This decision was strategic, allowing him time to recover and potentially qualify for the semifinals through the repechage, which provides a second chance for athletes who do not automatically qualify from their heats[1][2][4][5].
His decision to jog rather than sprint drew mixed reactions from fans and commentators, with many expressing confusion and disappointment. Social media was abuzz with comments questioning his tactics, as viewers expected a more competitive performance given his ranking as one of the top hurdlers in the world[1][2].
Crittenden remains optimistic about his chances in the repechage, stating that he hopes to feel better and perform at a higher level. His unique approach has sparked discussions about athlete strategy and the implications of the newly introduced repechage format in track events at the Olympics[2][4][5].
Now I get it. He wanted the extra time to heal from his injury. I didn’t really understand why he would want to run an additional race if he could just qualify the first time. I don’t fault him.
Reasons for His Performance
Public Reaction
Looking Ahead